Following guidelines from the central government that mild or pre-symptomatic Covid-19 cases can be kept in home isolation, the health and family welfare department of Delhi government on Thursday issued a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) that the patient and the caregiver will have to follow during the period.
The decision to keep patients with mild symptoms in home isolation was taken to take load off hospitals designated for patients infected with novel
coronavirus and covid care centres. Officials said the move will also take care of a common problem of loneliness that patients feel when they are admitted to a hospital or a centre.
According to the data provided by the AAP government, there were 2,291 active novel coronavirus cases in the capital on Wednesday, of which 1,871 were admitted in various hospitals and care centres, while the remaining 430 were in home isolation.
As per the SOP, a health team comprising anganwadi and Asha workers under the supervision of the in-charge of a public health facility will first assess the appropriateness of the facility of a mild symptomatic Covid patient before allowing home isolation.
Apart from a separate room for the patient and other family members, who have been home quarantined, there should be a caregiver to take care of the patient 24x7.
“The SOP contains a detailed list of instructions for both the patient and the caregiver, which have to be followed strictly by both. The instructions largely include the precautions the two are required to take during the 14-day period (16 days from the date of sample taken) of home isolation,” a Delhi government’s health department official said.
During home isolation, the patient must download the Aarogya Setu mobile application and able to measure his temperature on a regular basis and inform the health status to the district surveillance officer for further follow up.
The surveillance team will actively monitor the health condition of the patient and the caregiver either telephonically or by making regular visits to their house. “In case serious symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, mental confusion or inability to arouse or bluish discoloration of lips or face develop immediate medical attention will have to be sought by calling up the helpline numbers,” said an official.
The SOP also includes the precautions both the patient and the caregiver are required to take including wearing of three-layered medical masks and gloves, maintaining personal hygiene, regular washing of hands among others.
Officials said the home isolation will be over in 14 days if two consecutive test reports are found to be negative but will have to be increased as per the protocol if the patient is tested positive. “Passive surveillance as mentioned in containment plan will continue around the patient even after the home isolation is over,” the official added.
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